Temperatures warm up for the weekend after icy road conditions lead to more than 86 morning accidents

Oakland County Sheriff's deputies responded to 86 accidents between 6 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Wednesday due to the icy road conditions.

By 10 a.m., the ice already began to thaw, and all accidents were cleared, the Sheriff's Office reported. The warm-up will continue into the weekend, when residents will get an early -- and brief -- taste of spring.

Star EMS reported six vehicles were involved in rollover accidents in Springfield Township, Auburn Hills and Pontiac. One person was transported in emergency condition to a local hospital, but Star EMS President and CEO Bill Grubb said the condition of this person is unknown. All others involved in rollover accidents are in stable condition, said Grubb.

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One motorist reported that a vehicle flipped on M-24, right in front of The Palace of Auburn Hills, around 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Lt. James Manning, public information officer for Auburn Hills, said just the one car was involved in the accident.

"The accident was due to the icy roads. The patient was not hurt. He refused treatment. He just had minor bumps and bruises," said Manning.

One of the first accidents of the morning occurred at 3 a.m. Wednesday. A 1995 Chevy Caprice struck a snow embankment near the corner of Whittemore and South Edith streets, which caused the vehicle to become airborne and roll onto its roof. The 22-year-old driver received minor injures. The accident was caused by the icy road conditions and the driver's speed, deputies reported. Three passengers were also in the car. A 19-year-old Pontiac woman was transported to McLaren Oakland Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The front passenger, a 25-year-old Pontiac man, was not injured, and another passenger, an 18-year-old woman, refused treatment for a complaint of a minor injury.

Reports indicate that up to four cars were involved in an accident at Dixie Highway and Telegraph Road near the Pontiac-Waterford border. One motorist reported an accident involving two vehicles at Oakland Avenue near Woodward Avenue in Pontiac. Two accidents, one involving two vehicles and another a single vehicle, slowed traffic on Perry Street, also in Pontiac.

On Facebook and Twitter, readers reported on conditions. One reader said it appeared that black ice was on I-75.

"Accidents all over the place. Northbound I-75 at the Dixie Highway exit," wrote Gloria Tovar. "Roads look like they are wet but it is black ice. It is taking everyone by surprise, and there are multiple accidents everywhere."

Grubb advised residents driving in icy conditions to "slow down and increase your distance in-between you and the car in front of you."

Grubb said, when he was coming into work on Wednesday morning, he saw a driver slide on West Huron Street at Woodward Avenue in Pontiac.

"They slid right toward the cement steps going into a business," said Grubb. "There was black ice, so you couldn't really tell."

On Thursday, the high is expected to reach almost 39 degrees with a 10 percent chance of precipitation. But on Friday and Saturday, Oakland County residents can enjoy spring-like temperatures before it plummets again on Sunday. Light showers are expected Sunday night and, driving into work on Monday, residents will again need to be leery of icy roads.

National Weather Service forecaster Matt Mosteiko said, "We're going to have some strong southwest winds that will lead to 50 for a high on Friday and 55 for a high on Saturday."

Mosteiko said there is a high chance for rain on Friday, but, with the temperatures in the 50s, this rain is not expected to turn to ice.

He added, "Immediately behind, we'll get a chance for a rain/snow mix with highs in the mid-30s. ... There's a good chance of snow showers for the end of the weekend into early next week. That's on our radar for the next seven days."